Number: 2009-01
WHEREAS, global warming creates an unprecedented environmental threat not only to wildlife and its habitat, but also to the health, security, safety and prosperity of people worldwide; and
WHEREAS, the United States must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% of current levels by 2020 and by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 in order to avert the most serious consequences of global climate change, and to meet these targets our nation must have a population that is knowledgeable, ready, and prepared to reduce our nation’s energy consumption and trained to transition to our new green economy; and
WHEREAS, cap and invest legislation to curb global warming pollution will also create unparalleled opportunities for new careers and public and private investment as we move to a clean energy economy; and
WHEREAS, widely accessible education and training in green technology jobs is essential for economic recovery, and environmental sustainability; and
WHEREAS, more than 2.3 million jobs in the renewable energy sector have been created in recent years and this number is expected to grow significantly over the next decade; and
WHEREAS, stimulus investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs will train approximately 140,000 Americans for green jobs in the next two years and create new green jobs through billions of dollars of investments in a unified national smart grid, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green building design; and
WHEREAS, the quality of life of many working Americans could be improved with appropriate job education and training programs in the new clean energy economy; and
WHEREAS, our nation’s higher education institutions, including more than 1,200 community colleges, need additional financial resources to educate and re-train workers in green jobs for the future, including energy retrofits, alternative energy careers, sustainable agriculture, and other opportunities; and
WHEREAS, one third of the student population of our nation’s community colleges are from minority populations and community colleges provide the most economical opportunity for higher education and job training; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to creating a new energy future and career opportunities for future generations focuses on exchanging information on best practices for green jobs education and training at universities and community colleges across the country; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation’s vision of our transition to a new clean energy future should result in high-quality, accessible green collar jobs for diverse, under-represented populations and communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled April 30 – May 2, 2009, in Pittsburgh, PA, hereby urges Congress to use the opportunity of cap and invest legislation to support green jobs and sustainability education and training at our nation’s universities and community colleges and other career training institutions and programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation strongly encourages government at the federal, state and local levels to support green job education and training within the existing structure of America’s education systems; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports green job education and training programs for workers at universities, community colleges, and any other career training education institutions and programs across the country to ensure a smooth transition to the green economy, to promote clean energy, and to protect wildlife from global warming.